Sewing machine needle



Aug. 29, 1933. J. M. amn: 1,924,378

SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE Filed Jan. 9, 1932 16 await, fizz Patented Aug.29, 1933 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 1,924,878 SEWING mom manna YJoseph M. Rattle, Pawtucket, R. I. Application January 9, 1932. SerialNo. 585,676 1 Claim. (01. 112-224) This invention relates to an improvedsewing machine needle so constructed asto be capable of being threadedby the operator quickly and expeditiously without the dimculty ofpassing the thread through the eye of the needle' as is usual in devicesof that character.

One object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described wherein means are provided for inserting the threadlaterally into the eye of the needle and at the same time the parts areso arranged as to provide a complete closure for the lateralopeningafter the insertion of the thread whereby the danger of thethread catching upon portions of the needle adjacent to the opening asit is fed through the needle eye is substantially entirely eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a needle of thischaracter having the parts so proportioned and arranged that .thestrength of the needle is not materially diminished by the provision ofthe lateral opening for inserting the thread.

Afurther object of the invention, is the provision or" a device of thischaracter having the parts so formed to provide resilient interfittingportions adjacent to the lateral opening leading into the eye of theneedle whereby these resilient parts spring together after the insertionof the thread to substantially entirely close the opening and leave noparts adapted to catch into or interfere with the free passage of thethread through the eye..

Referring to the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view oi. the improved needle structureshowing the position and arrangement of the longitudinal slit found inthe needle body to provide a resilient closure for the opening into theeye.

Fig. 2 is afront elevational view of the needle showing the position ofthe parts when the spring arm is sprung outwardly during the insertionof a thread, and,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the needle body, taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In that form of the invention illustrated herewith 1 indicates generallya sewing machine needle approximating substantially in size. and generaloutline the needle ordinarily employed in sewing machines-and comprisesan enlarged head 2 adapted to be secured in a recess in the needle armand which may differ in construction according to the machine inconnection with which the needle is to be used.

spring arm 12 separated That end of the spring The head 2 of the needleterminates in. a conical shoulder 3 from which extends the reduced bodyportion 4 terminating in a pointed end 5.

The needle-eye or thread-eye 6 is located substantially entirely uponone side of the center line 7 of the needle in order to give greaterstrength to the needle as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, andthe eye 6 is formed with the lower portion 8 thereof which is locatedadjacent to the pointed end 5 of greater width than the upper portion 9which ismore remote from the pointed end 5. The usual thread groove 10extends longitudinally of the body portion 4 of the needle andterminates in the upper or narrowed portion 9' of the needle eye. Theneedle. body 4 is provided with an integral frornbut adapted to fitclosely against the main body portion 4 of the needle throughout themajor portion of its 7 length and extending from a point adjacent to thelower enlarged portion 8 of the eye to a point in proximity to theconical shoulder 3.

arm 12 which is most remote from the eye 6 of the needle may ter- 30minate in an inclined end 14 oppositely positioned relative to aninclined shoulder 15 formed in the body portion of the needle. The partsmay be so constructed that the inclined end 14 is spaced from theinclined shoulder 35 15 a sufficient distance to receive freelytherebetween a thread of the size adapted for use with the needle inquestion. 1

spring arm 12 when the parts are in their normal positions. The engagingsurfaces of the spring arm 12 and needle body 4 may be plane surfaces,and the spring arm 12 and needle body 4 are so formed that the springarm 12 fits closely against the needle body and the depending lip 16throughout its entire length save for the portion 17 which communicateswith the lower portion 8 of the needle eye. With this r arrangement ofthe parts the spring arm is capable of springing out slightly from thebody portion of the needle after the thread 18 is in serted between theinclined end 14 of the spring arm and the shoulder 15 of the bodyportion and as the thread is drawn downwardly between the spring arm 12and the body portion of the needle, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

When the thread 18 has been drawn downwardly a sumcieirt distance to beopposite to the depending lip 16, the lip lewill spring inwardly--slightly toweirds the interior of the needle eye to permit the thread 18to pass over the end thereof and into the eye.

In threading the needle the thread may be positioned within the narrowspace separating the inclined end 14 of the spring arm from the shoulder15, and when a downward poll is er:- ertecl upon the thread it will bereadilydratvn downwardly between the needle body and spring arm into theeye 6.

It will be seen that in my improved needle structure the parts are soarranger; that the needle will he enabled to pass into and out of thefabric in forming the stitches without any liability of the edges orends of the spring arm or depending lip catching in the fabric or in anyway interfering with the proper operation of'the needle. By oil-settingthe eye '8 so that the major portion thereof is located substantiallyupon one side or" the median of the needle and forming the operling foradmission of the thread upon that side of the eye which has the thinnerside Wall, substantially increased strength is given the needle andclanger of breakage at the eye is substantially eliminateil. Theformation of the eye with a roletively narrow top portion 9 andrelatively Wide i bottom portion s, permits the formation of the springarm 12 of substantially unii'orm thickness throughout its length andprovides the elepeziriirig spring lip 15 which is capable of sorts inginwardly slightly as the thread is drawn downwardly to permit the threadto enter the eye and then springs back into close engagement with thespring arm to entirely close the opening adjacent the eye and thusprevent the thread from either reentering the recess or catching uponthe end or the depending lip 16.

What I claim is:---,

A needle of the character described provided with a thread-eye ofisetlaterally relative to the median line of the needle and. having one sideinclined relative to the median line of the needle and a lateral cutformed in one side of the needle above the thread-eye and upon that sideof the median line of the needle upon which the major portion of thethread-eye is located and having a straight longitudinally eitendingslit formed in the same side of the needle body as the lateral cutandextending substantially parallel with the median line of the needleto intersect the thread-eye opening and connect the lateral out directlywith thethreadeye above the widest portion of the threarheye, anal forma spring arm having a portion which serves to provide a part of one sideof the thread eyewall and a portion which normally lies close- 'lyagainst that part of the needle hotly upon one side of the slit to closethe thread-eye, the latter portion being capable oil being sprung awayfrom the needle body to admit the passage of a thread from the lateralout directly to the thread-eye whereby the thread-eye is normallycompletely closed to provide an interior face free from obstructions tothe passage of the thread.

JOSEPH M. RATTIE,

